AN initiative to develop sport, especially rugby, was undertaken recently in Mbekweni by Drakenstein town councillor Zinzo Mthini.

Mthini handed over rugby kit to youngsters in the township, encouraging them to play and be committed to the sport.

"Many people are saying that rugby is a dying sport in Mbekweni, but we are going to prove them wrong, by getting young people to play rugby and be proud of it.

"Most of the young men here in Mbekweni know a lot about soccer, because it tends to be the dominant sport in our townships and because they have been taught by watching it on television. We want to see the same things happening with rugby," he said.

According to Mthini a rugby division is to be selected according to the age of players. One of his goals is to establish a club that will take part in big tournaments.

"We are expecting you to play good rugby, to show other people that you can do this," Mthini added.

It was also a great privilege for the players to meet a veteran rugby player, Sicelo Gwe. He started his rugby career at Wellington and started playing for Vultures when they were moved to Mbekweni.

"I am happy to see that rugby will be played in Mbekweni. I want to encourage young players to make use of this opportunity, because we were not granted these chances in the old days, because of the Apartheid-policy by the government.

"The story of rugbyplayer Khayalethu Kayisho (whose father came from Mbekweni) can serve as encouragement to the young people, so that they can know that if you have a passion for rugby, you can reach high places. He has become a role model for the young kids."

Mthini added that a lack of infrastructure should not serve as a discouragement for them.

"We should convince rugby structures to improve the local infra-structure for the development of rugby."

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